Are Skittles Vegan? Our Guide – Flavor-by-Flavor

Skittles are one of the most popular fruity candies, known for their vibrant colors and delicious flavors. But are they suitable for a vegan lifestyle?

The good news is that all Skittles flavors are vegan-friendly! Skittles do not contain any animal-derived ingredients, including gelatin or carmine, making them suitable for plant-based eaters. 

However, certain ingredients, such as palm oil, sugar, and artificial colors, may raise ethical concerns for some vegans.

In this article, we’ll evaluate the ingredients of every Skittles flavor to confirm their vegan status and discuss potential concerns to help you make an informed decision.

Flavor-by-Flavor Breakdown: Are They Vegan?

Let’s examine the ingredients of each Skittles flavor to determine whether they are vegan-friendly.

1. Original Skittles

• Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, etc.), Carnauba Wax, Sodium Citrate.
• Vegan Status: Vegan. All ingredients are plant-based.

2. Wild Berry Skittles

• Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Fruit Juice Concentrate (Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Blackberry, Grape), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Colors (Red 40, Blue 2, Yellow 5, etc.), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C).
• Vegan Status: Vegan. Contains no animal-derived ingredients.

3. Sour Skittles

• Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Colors (Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1, etc.), Carnauba Wax, Sodium Citrate.
• Vegan Status: Vegan. All ingredients are plant-based.

4. Darkside Skittles

• Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Colors (Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5, etc.), Carnauba Wax, Sodium Citrate.
• Vegan Status: Vegan. Free from animal-derived ingredients.

5. Sweets & Sours Skittles

• Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, etc.), Carnauba Wax, Sodium Citrate.
• Vegan Status: Vegan. Contains only plant-based ingredients.

6. Sweet Heat Skittles

• Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Colors (Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1, etc.), Carnauba Wax, Sodium Citrate.
• Vegan Status: Vegan. All ingredients are plant-based.

7. Brightside Skittles

• Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Colors (Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1, etc.), Carnauba Wax, Sodium Citrate.
• Vegan Status: Vegan. No animal-derived ingredients.

8. Tropical Skittles

• Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Apple Juice Concentrate, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Colors (Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5, etc.), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C).
• Vegan Status: Vegan. All ingredients are plant-based.

Ingredients That May Concern Strict Vegans

Although Skittles do not contain animal products, certain ingredients may be controversial for some vegans:

1. Palm Oil

Palm oil is a plant-based ingredient but is controversial due to its environmental impact, including deforestation and wildlife displacement. While technically vegan, many avoid it for ethical reasons.

2. Sugar

Refined cane sugar can be processed with bone char during whitening. It’s unclear whether Skittles use bone-char-processed sugar, so some strict vegans may avoid them.

3. Artificial Colors

Synthetic dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 are vegan but are often tested on animals, raising ethical concerns for some plant-based eaters.

Final Thoughts

Skittles are considered vegan-friendly, with all flavors made from plant-based ingredients. 

However, if you avoid palm oil, refined sugar, or artificial colors for ethical reasons, you may want to think twice before indulging.

Overall, Skittles are a great option for most vegans looking for a colorful and fruity candy treat.

Frequently Asked Questions